Amboseli

Site Home Page 2010 Home Page USA Asia2010 Africa Kenya

1. Amboseli

Saturday 30th October

Day 17: Johannesburg – Nairobi (FB,D)

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Nairobi, Kenya. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel.

Overnight Stay: Nairobi

A no photo day. We spent 12 hours travelling from the hotel in Johannesburg to the hotel in Nairobi.

We know where to find the best shops in Johannesburg airport. Our flight was delayed so we spent over four hours exploring the airport shops. When we arrived at Nairobi we had a long wait in queues because the guide who was supposed to be easing our way through did exactly the opposite.

We were glad to finally arrive at the hotel, have dinner ( a substantial buffet), and update this webpage

Sunday 31st October

Day 18: Nairobi – Amboseli National Park (FB,L,D)

Following breakfast leave the city and head south to Amboseli National Park located beneath the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro. Late this afternoon, experience a game drive through the Park.

Two Night Stay: Amboseli National Park

7:30am was the designated departure time and eventually left a bit later because there were at least three groups trying to load into safari vehicles. Justus is our driver and the one who leads the way.

We wove our way through the back streets of Nairobi because there was a marathon on which was being run on the main roads. It was interesting to see different sides of the city.

Once we reached the main road there were countless trucks heading into and out of Nairobi. The road we were on is the main road to the port of Mombasa. The air-conditioning is easily controllable – wind the window up or down according to the speed of the vehicle and to keep the dust of other vehicles out.

typical countryside on our journey

village scenes

We made a stop at a craft barn but didn’t buy anything and then headed off to Amboseli. Along the road there were occasionally bars with spikes which Justus had to negotiate the way around – these were to slow traffic when there were roadworks – a man sitting in the middle of the road painting lines, or sometimes for no obvious reason.

the countryside at Amboseli and an ostrich

It was just about lunchtime when we reached the lodge at Amboseli.

Our room at the lodge

Lunch was a buffet 3 course meal; we decided to eat 2 small courses. 3 big meals a day is just too much.

These Vervet monkeys made themselves at home around the lodge.

We had free time after lunch before the late afternoon game drive, so we decided to go to the pool. Anne went in, it was cold to begin but very refreshing.

in the swimming pool

Late afternoon it was time to go out into the park to see what we could see. Animals we saw included Thompson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, herds of wildebeest and zebras, elephants, hyenas and a couple of lionesses lying in the grass.

looking out for game

two sleeping lionesses

Elephants having fun

A Grant's Gazelle

zebra and wildebeest

A dazzle of zebra

Hyena

A Thompson's gazelle

Elephants and more elephants

The sunset

and Mt Kilimanjaro

The sun set so we began to go back to the lodge for dinner.

We arrived back in time to clean up for dinner another 3 course meal.

Monday 1st November

Day 19: Amboseli National Park (FB,L,D)

The snow clad peak of Mt Kilimanjaro soars above you while you enjoy your game drive through the savannah and acacia scrub. Heading deep into the park you will encounter large concentrations of elephants and abundant birdlife such as grey heron, stork and Egyptian goose. We also visit a traditional Maasai Village. SCENIC FREECHOICE choose from:(1) a nature walk accompanied by the Lodge’s resident nature expert; or (2) a soothing massage.

An early morning alarm to get ready for a game drive before breakfast.

This morning’s drive was incredible. We were privileged to see a cheetah, we also spotted the usual zebras, gazelle, wildebeest, two lionesses in the grass, and a lone elephant. Mt Kilimanjaro was also had its head out of the clouds.

A herd of wildebeest

Two lionesses in the grass

a lone hyena

The star of the morning - the cheetah

After breakfast we were taken to visit a Maasai village where we were welcomed by singing and dancing and a prayer before we were escorted through the gates. This village lost all their cattle in the drought and now rely on tourists for income.

The medicine man’s son spoke to us about their herbal medicines and showed us how to start a fire.

The village has a school where the children are educated up to the end of primary school. All children are taught English, Swahili and their mother tongue. We were taken to visit the youngest children who were aged 3 – 6. Their classroom was a small wooden room out of which 80 children came. The teacher was a man with a stick in his hand, I think it was used for discipline as he was waving it in the air and not one child was being naughty. They sang 3 songs for us including one with words that went “I love Jesus He is my Saviour”. The teacher wanted donations to build a larger classroom and many of us responded. The children could understand and speak a little English. One had a small notebook with numbers written in it so they counted in English for me and tried to tell me their names. This was a special time.

We were then taken to the market a couple at a time.

The aim seemed to be divide and conquer. In the end we bought a basket made from beads and a bead bangle which they wanted 5 000 shillings for about $60 AU. We didn’t have that much cash so I traded my watch and now have to ask Kevin for the time.

We arrived back at the Lodge in time for lunch another 3 course meal.

This afternoon we have opted not to go on the Nature Walk to look at the plants and rocks. Instead we paid for internet access to update the webpage, read our email as well as have time for a siesta.

At 4pm it was time for our next game drive. It was another interesting drive.

Justus took us to the lookout where we were allowed out of the vehicle to climb the stairs to the top of the hill. The views from the top were expansive across the plains and towards Mt Kilimanjaro with its head in the clouds.

The views from the top of the lookout hill